Eat Around the World Challenge : France

Hi everyone!  Today I have the second installment in my "Eat Around the World Challenge" (if you missed the first one, click here!).  Today, we'll be traveling to France.  This is another cuisine that I've never made before, and I actually haven't eaten much of either!  There aren't many French restaurants in Pittsburgh, and the ones we have are a bit out of my price range.



It was fun trying out some new recipes, but unfortunately the sides turned out much better than the main dish.  I did find an AMAZING recipe that you'll find below, and I can't wait to make it again and again!  It's incredible!  Keep reading and see what I came up with!

P.S. I'll be linking up with Anne in her next Pin to Present series!  If you want to follow me on Pinterest, click here.  The pictures on the left are the pins, and my version is on the right.

Chicken Chasseur

chix_chasseur_1.JPG

The chicken chasseur was very odd- when I made it first, the sauce was really runny and bland.  I tried it again the next day with some cheese and rice and it transformed into an incredibly rich, delicious dish!  So weird!  I'm not sure if I would make it again, but it was great as leftovers!

Carrot Salad 

The carrot salad, however, was so simple and delicious.  I decided to get multi-color carrots (which I think taste better, and also look prettier) and used a spiralizer to shred them.  It was a great side dish, and I'll be trying this again in the future!  I took leftovers for lunch the next day, and it tasted even better.  The dressing marinated the carrots and it tasted amazing!

French Onion Soup


This was AMAZING and definitely the highlight of dinner!  I don't have a broiler and forgot bread, but even so this was incredible.  I don't typically like French Onion soup, but this one was so rich and decadant.  I am in love and will be making this recipe again and again!

The recipe itself was really time consuming, but didn't take much effort.  Most of the time I was just waiting for the onions to carmelize or the soup to come together.  Highly recommend trying this out!

I hope you enjoyed this little food journey today!  This is such a fun resolution and Dan and I have both enjoyed trying new cuisines each month without paying a ton to go to restaurants.  Coming up next month is Greece...can't wait!

Linking up with Amanda for thinking out loud Thursday!

What's your favorite French dish?
Do you like to try out different cuisines at home? 

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 23, 2015 at 5:51 AM

    I LOVE making carrot salads with my spiralizer! I can never find any other colour carrots though - maybe at the farmers market this weekend! French onion soup is also a fave! I never really eat French food, but it always looks so rich and delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunApril 23, 2015 at 6:58 AM

      I noticed them at the store right beside the regular carrots! I think you would definitely find them at the farmers market. Try them out- they're great!!

      Delete
  2. LesleyApril 23, 2015 at 5:54 AM

    We've got a franchise of French bakeries in Texas and they're amazing! If I can't get to France, at least I can go there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunApril 23, 2015 at 6:59 AM

      Ohh that's so cool! I agree- thats the second best thing to being in France. Just eat your croissant and watch Julie+Julia :)

      Delete
  3. AnneApril 23, 2015 at 6:19 AM

    What a fun idea! I've really never tried any French cooking myself (always seems so intimidating), but I like the sound of these recipes. We have a little French bistro down the street that does "fill the pot" nights where you come bring your Le Crueset and they fill it with things like beef bourguignon, so we've done that before - kind of like home cooked and slightly less expensive than dining out, without the work :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunApril 23, 2015 at 7:01 AM

      I thought so too, but it's really not! Most of it was pretty time-consuming but pretty easy. That fill the pot idea sounds so cool..I would love to get some beef bourguignon! I was going to make that but it didn't seem very spring-appropriate :)

      Delete
  4. Beverley @ Sweaty&FitApril 23, 2015 at 7:30 AM

    French cuisine is one of the meals that i have never made! I didn't even know what was considered 'French' until i read this post! The food looks great espeically the french onion soup!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunApril 23, 2015 at 8:33 AM

      Thank you! I'm glad you liked it :) The recipes were all so easy, you should try some!

      Delete
  5. UnknownApril 23, 2015 at 8:13 AM

    I have a veg version of French Onion Soup I make and love. When I was in France for vacation, I was vegetarian but not vegan and was afraid of accidentally ordering dishes with meat. So pretty much all I ate was cheese and crackers and those tomato/mozzarella panini sandwiches they sell in food carts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunApril 23, 2015 at 8:34 AM

      Ohhh cheese and cracker diet in France..sounds amazing!!

      Delete
  6. carissajadeApril 23, 2015 at 9:06 AM

    This looks awesome! I really want to try those carrots!

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    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunApril 23, 2015 at 2:28 PM

      You should! It was so easy and tasted REALLY good!

      Delete
  7. EmilyApril 23, 2015 at 1:41 PM

    Hmm... I really like croissants. :D I do like french onion soup, but I think my favorite is their croissants.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunApril 23, 2015 at 2:28 PM

      I should have tried to make those...or just bought a tube from Pillsbury :)

      Delete

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